Terms (The Experiments Book 3) (4 page)

Orange County Airport - Los Angeles, CA

August 29
th

Greg smiled pleasantly as he stood by the conveyor belt watching the silver case run through the x-ray machine.

“Ironic,” Dr. Jefferson said. “Perhaps the second time it was examined today?” He made reference to the case.

“Actually.” Greg gave a nod and a smile to the security woman and took the case. “Third. We had to go through it again ourselves. Doesn’t look like anything was tampered with. I didn’t think it would be. That wasn’t the purpose for them stealing the case.”

“Why am I getting the feeling what they did doesn’t shock you?” Dr. Jefferson wondered.

“It doesn’t. I expected it. I thought for sure they would have thought of it right away . . .” Greg snickered. “In fact, I started to get annoyed at the length of time it was taking for them to think about copying the case. I was starting to think I would have to drop . . . hints?”

“So this doesn’t worry you?” Dr. Jefferson asked as they walked the terminal.

“No not at all.”

“Even with Jake having the case. He may someday find, how can you say, a defense?”

“Nah. The core of the information won’t even be seen, because the surface of it all is so . . .” He whispered out in a snide way. “Tasty.” He watched Dr. Jefferson shake his head. “You’ll figure out what I mean. You can say their little, ‘copy the case behind Haynes back’ . . .” Greg winked. “Played right into my hands.”

Fayetteville, North Carolina

August 29
th
.

There were some bags to unload from the car that brought him from the airport, but it wasn’t much. After paying the driver, Jake stood on the walkway to this home.

He stared for a moment before heading up to his house. A weird sense hit him.

Normalcy.

So many mental endurance experiments, so many projects that took him away for weeks even months at a time, experiments were second nature to him. But Jake couldn’t recall ever getting bombarded with such a sense of return to normalcy. He felt it even more as he stood at his front door.

Even after the last Iso-Stasis experiment, Jake didn’t feel it. Then again, Jake wasn’t living in his house either. He had base housing, it was far from a home. He was overwhelmed because he had built such a life for himself, and he realized that right there and then. He also realized how alone he was going to feel. Prior to Cal, being alone was never even a thought, because he had always been alone. It wouldn’t be long that they’d be apart. He’d stay busy and occupied. But that still wouldn’t stop him from missing her. Something he had already started to do. It was going to be a long few days until she got back, and an even longer two weeks while she was on that study. How quiet his life would be.

“Dude.” Rickie stood behind Jake. “Dude, you gonna get the door or what? I have to pee really bad.”

“Rickie.” Jake reached for the door.

“No guy, I’m like ready to water the plants if you get my drift.” He watched the door open and Rickie blasted in past Jake.

The bags nearly topped from Jake’s hand. He shook his head listening to Rickie’s pattering feet, and radical screaming of, ‘I’m not gonna make it, I’m not gonna make it.’

Not worrying about the bags, Jake walked to the security keypad and punched in the code. The beep of which rang out simultaneously with Rickie’s long sigh of relief.

Grumbling, Jake walked across the foyer, got a grip on the bags and closed the door. The house didn’t smell stale, and he was grateful for that. Chuck, his life-long friend must have done the task asked and aired things out.

He flicked on the lights to brightened the dimming evening. On the table in the foyer he saw a stack of mail next to the phone. “Christ.” He lifted up the note on top by Chuck telling him that the stack was just a preview. While he was standing there, Jake picked up the phone. He listed to the series of beeps that told him he had messages. It was odd, but thinking that maybe Cal called, Jake accessed the voice mail.

“You have three hundred and forty-one messages.” The voice mail said.

“Fuck. Fuckin’ asshole, he didn’t check my voice mail.” Not bothering, Jake immediately hung up and dialed again. “Hey Chuck. What the fuck? You were supposed to check my voice mail.”

“Um, hello?” Chuck laughed. “No how are you? Nothing like that?”

“Not when I find out I have three hundred fuckin’ messages. I fuckin’ paid you to take care of this shit.”

“Let’s try again, Jake. You’re talking to me, you haven’t seen me in seven months and . . .”

“Chuck. What? You want me to get sentimental?”

“Might be nice.”

“Fine. You’re a good friend. I’d love to see you.”

“Jake, that’s nice.”

“Yeah. Love to see you come over here and clear off these three hundred fuckin’ messages.”

“Add some beer and pizza and I’m there.”

Jake grumbled. “Chuck.”

“Jake, Jake, Jake.” Chuck snickered. ‘It’s good to have you back.”

After another grumble, Jake hung up the phone.

Cedars of Sinai Hospital - Los Angeles, CA

Billy was to have the best. Cal requested that, and so did Caldwell, but somehow the best didn’t quite extend to the food. Still sleeping after being hit with a super dose of antibiotics, Cal stared at the tray of food that perched upon the bedside carousel. The wheat colored plastic cafeteria tray. The tiny carton of milk, cup of coffee and tin covered plate.

The aid brought in the tray just before five PM. She told him Billy was out, and the aid informed Cal just to leave it, he would get it later.

After a few minutes, Cal could smell the coffee. It didn’t smell that bad, and since it would only get cold and wasted, she decided to sip it.

Aldo had just arrived back to the room, as she was sipping from the brown cup. He held his own coffee in hand. He halted immediately when he walked in.

“I thought I told you I’d get you a coffee,” he said. “You don’t need to drink the invalids.”

“I know. I know. But it smelled good.”

“It’s coffee. Now he doesn’t have one when he wakes. Should you be drinking so much coffee?”

“Aldo,” Cal snickered “Should you be sounding like Jake?”

Aldo grumbled.

“There it is again.” She held out her hand speaking about his groan.

At that moment, Billy stirred. He moaned some, turned, coughed and slept.

“See.” Aldo pointed. “He’s waking. Now he’s stuck without coffee.”

“Not really. Not if you go get him one.”

Aldo stared. He set down the Styrofoam cup. “You’re lucky I am nice and bored.”

“Thanks, Aldo.”

“You wanna drink that until I get back.” He referred to his own cup.

“I will.”

“I’ll be back.” He turned.

“Aldo?’

“Yes.”

“Will you get me a cup, too?”

“Cal … how many cups is that?”

She tossed out her hand to him. “It takes a lot. I’m having twins, so my threshold is higher.”

“I don’t believe that, you know.”

“ I know.”

“I’ll be back.” Another step …

“Aldo.”

He stopped. “Yes.”

“Do they have espresso?”

“Cal …” he spoke calmly. “It’s a hospital coffee shop. No.”

“Oh,”

After a moment, after looking at the disappointment on her face, he exhaled. “Would you like me to find you an espresso?”

Like a child, Cal nodded excitedly. “If it’s not too much trouble. And … and could you pick Billy up a desert?”

“Why am I picking up Billy a desert?”

“Because I ate his Jell-O.”

“Cal, if you’re hungry, I’ll get you food.”

“No. No.” She shook her head. “The Jell-O was melting. I had to eat it.”

“It wasn’t melting. You were hungry.”

“Yeah, Aldo it was melting.”

“Cal, they put stuff in there so it doesn’t melt. Should I get you food?” he asked.

“Um … no. We’ll go for a late dinner after visiting hours.”

“You sure?”

“Positive.”

“I’m leaving.” Aldo turned and with hesitation took another step toward the door.

“Aldo?”

“I knew it.”

Cal snickered. “Maybe just a salad. A small one to tide me over.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive.” Cal gave a thumbs up,

Aldo, not taking any more chances, hurriedly left the hospital.

“Too bad you’re missing this,” Cal spoke to a sleeping Billy. “But, you’ll get up soon.” Folded arms, she stood in her boredom and paced around the room. She read the card on the flowers from Caldwell, the card from the network. There was a bouquet of flowers, blue with a balloon. Cal read that card as well. “Who’s Anita?” she asked. “I never heard that name before.”

After replacing the cards, she went back to her bed side chair. She picked up the phone, and lifted the tablet next to it. A number was on there and she dialed it. “Hey, got your machine again. This is Cal, your brother’s friend. Just giving you an update. He’s still sleeping. Call you in the next hour. Bye.” Hanging up, Cal lifted the remote. She flipped through the channels. “Reality shows. God. We were our own reality show. Better than this.” She snickered. “Survivor. Look Bill. Survivor. Jake and I so make fun of that game show …” She released a laughing breath and paused. “Wow. Burger King.” She titled her head when the burger, juicy and flame broiled, rotated about the screen. “I haven’t had Burger King in a while.” Quickly flipping off the television, Cal lifted the phone and dialed again. “Hey, Aldo.” She paused to laugh. “No. No. Just a latte will work. But … can you stop at Burger King? It won’t spoil my late night dinner. I promise. Thanks.” Giddy, she hung up. “Aldo’s getting me a Whopper.”

She focused briefly on the television once more, then her eyes shifted to his dinner tray. Cal stood and paced her way to the cart. She lifted the silver lid. “What is this, roast beef?” she lowered her head and sniffed. After a shrug, she poked her finger in the gravy. “Not bad. Jake wants to keep me on a strict nutritionally fit diet, you know.” She started to lower the lid, but she paused.

Billy was still sleeping.

“This is only gonna go to waste, right? Right.” Setting down the lid, Cal picked up the fork.

A few bites wouldn’t hurt. After all, she had that fast food burger coming shortly.

Caldwell, Research Island

Stan never did get that suntan he had hoped for, after all seven months on a tropical island should have bred some color. But instead he was sheltered inside and for the last leg, even more closed in when the Amoebas took over.

He boarded that helicopter for safety, kicked back in a hotel in Hawaii, and planned a little rest.

He had grown a hatred for that island. Plus in one of the last conversation he had with Dr. Haynes, the devious director indicated to Stan, “when you get back you are so fuckin’ fired.”

Stan didn’t sweat it. Actually he welcomed it. Although he had been part of Caldwell research for many years, it may have been time to move on.

Bigger and better things. Stranger things.

He had received word that the Virginia Bigfoot society was looking for a scientist to monitor things. To live in a cabin six months out of a year, and watch for Bigfoot.

Sasquatch was not a fear for Stan. Not after the stasis.

But hours of daydreaming of being the one and only to discover the mythically creature was actually for real, came abruptly to an end.

He had to return to the island.

“What? I’m not fired? I thought I was fired.”

Haynes smirked over the phone. Stan couldn’t see him, but he could imagine the arrogant little scientist.

“No, Stan,” Haynes replied “Why would we let such an asset as yourself go?”

Wanting to call him all sorts of names, to get fired, Stan stopped short when Haynes offered him ten grand to return to the island for another week for cleanup.

“When do I leave?” Was his response.

So there he was.

Back on the island. Alone with the exception of the pilot. The once tropical beauty looked as if it were hit with a nuclear weapon. Everything was burned out when they napalmed it.

Very little green remained, and not only was the island burned; the institute seemed to have doused it with water. Probably sea water. Not only to extinguish any blazes, but to disintegrate any remaining amoebas.

Stan tread cautiously. He of all people knew first hand how deadly and out of control the amoebas could be.

“I hate this place,” he said to the pilot.

“So you’ve said. About a hundred times.”

“That’s because I do. I hate it. I was here for seven months.”

“I know.”

“I thought I was above this.”

“Coming back?”

“Heck, yeah.” Stan said. “Usually only flunkies go out in the field to collect evidence. I stopped being a flunky when I became a controller. Not that you know what that is.”

“Nope. Don’t know.”

“Well, that’s fine. But just know that I’m a controller.”

“Are we supposed to just be here on the beach?” The pilot asked.

“That’s what Haynes said. Which tells me ….” Before he could finish his sentence, Stan nodded. “Yep. There.” He pointed to the helicopter making its way closer. “He arrives.”

It didn’t take long for the helicopter to land down the beach, and Stan was grateful for that. The last thing he wanted was sand blown in his face.

Haynes was alone, that surprised him.

The helicopter blades ceased to turn, the motor faded, and Haynes stepped out. He walked toward the beach, dressed more for a business meeting rather than a destroyed former tropical paradise.

“Stan.” Greg extended his hand with his typical, closed mouth smile. “You look well.”

“I was resting in Hawaii, you know.” Stan replied. “Planning on a tan. One I never got while I was here for seven months.”

“Really?” Greg lifted his chin and a ‘what do you know’ fashion. “You like the island life. Getting a tan?”

“Ha, ha, ha. Is that a sarcastic reference to this place?”

“Not at all.”

“Cause this place sucks. It really sucks. You want me to lead the clean up and extraction crew don’t you.”

“You can say that.”

Stan whined. “See? Why? I thought I had risen above that.”

“Stan you know this place better than anyone. I need you here at least for the first couple days. Help the crew. I know you don’t mind.”

“Do I have to sleep here?”

“No, we’ll fly you in and out daily.”

Stan exhaled. “I guess that will work. But you do know I’m not gonna get a tan. This place is surrounded by a cloud. And we should be wearing suits in case the amoebas survived. One is all that it takes.”

“The crew with the equipment should be arriving shortly.”

“I’m not taking any chances. This place sucks,” Stan shook his head. “I can’t wait to get back to Caldwell, since I didn’t lose my job.”

“Stan. Stan.” Greg laid a hand on his shoulder and started to walk with him, “Why would I get rid of you. You’re our best controller.”

“So you’ve said.”

“Besides, I need you.” Greg told him. “I need you to help right away. A controller of sorts, more of an observer on site. Advisor, you name it. In fact, I thought you’d like it. A little tropical paradise.”

Stan’s eyes widened in fear.

“Not here. Elsewhere. Closer to home. Easy. Easy job. Phase one is.”

“Sort of a controller?” Stan said. “Advisor? Observer. Phase one.”

“Yep.” Greg nodded.

“Are we talking preparations for Iso-Fourteen, because really,  isn’t it a bit soon?”

“No. Not Iso-fourteen yet …” Greg said. “You can say it’s more like …” He paused and smiled. “Iso-Stasis Thirteen … continued.”

***

Cedars of Sinai Hospital - Los Angeles, CA

“You hate me,” Billy said weakly through cracked lips. He was propped up some in his bed, color had returned to his face.

“No Billy, I don’t hate you at all. How can I?” Cal  questioned him. “What would make you say that?”

Aldo replied. “He sold out.”

“Aldo please,” Cal told him. “Billy?”

“I sold out,” Billy said.

Cal sipped her coffee.

“Do you think I sold out, Cal?” Billy asked.

Again, Cal sipped.

“You do.”

“She does.” Aldo added.

“I don’t. I just …” Cal exhaled. “Ok, I do. But I understand your reasoning.”

“I’m glad you do. Because I know Caldwell can give me back my leg.”

Aldo mumbled, “Yeah, but what else are they gonna do to you.”

Both Cal and Billy looked at him.

“What? You aren’t thinking it?” Aldo chuckled. “If you didn’t think of that, Cal, you aren’t as bright as I give you credit. But since you rarely disappoint me, I know you thought of it.”

“I thought of it, but hey …” she said brightly. “Look at it this way. At least for the first part of it all I get to make sure you’re OK.”

Billy asked. “What do you mean?”

“Check this out.” Cal scooted her chair closer. “Because, you know, I’m pregnant and the experiment had a bit to do with it, I have to partake in Caldwell research if I fit the criteria. Well, I’m doing this research thing for pregnant women on a Caldwell island, the same island at the same time you’ll be getting testing for the bionic spare part.”

“You’re doing a pregnant experiment?” Billy asked.

“Well, sure. Puff stuff. Pampered and stress tests. Nothing dangerous.” Cal flung out her hand.